- MATCH ANALYSIS IN BRIEF
| Date | Tuesday 31st October, 2023 at 14:00 (IST) and at 08:30 (UK) |
| Venue | Pakistan vs Bangladesh will take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India |
| Weather | Conditions are expected to be very hot, with temperatures at around 32c come the start of play amid bright sunshine and light winds, but as the sun gives way to clear skies later in the day, temperatures should drop to under 30c. |
| TV & Streaming | Viewers in India: you can watch this match live on Star Sports channels or stream it via the Disney+ Hotstar app. |
| Viewers in Pakistan: you can watch this match live on both PTV Sports and A-Sports or stream it through the PTVFLIX App. | |
| Viewers in Sri Lanka: you can watch this match live on Maharaja TV or stream it on Sirasatv. Lk. | |
| Viewers in Afghanistan: you can watch this match live on Ariana TV. | |
| Viewers in Bangladesh: you can watch it on Gazi TV or stream it through Rabbithole. | |
| Viewers in the UK: you can watch this match live on Sky Sports or stream it via the Sky Go App. | |
| Viewers in Australia: you can watch this match live on Fox Sports or stream it via the Foxtel or Kayo Sports app. | |
| Viewers in South Africa: you can watch this match on SuperSport channels or stream it via the SuperSport app. | |
| Viewers in the USA and Canada: you can watch this match live on Willow TV, whilst viewers from the USA can also stream it via the ESPN+ app. |
KEY BETTING STATS
- Imam ul-Haq has scored under 30.5 runs in four of Pakistan’s six 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup matches played so far – Batter Match Runs.
- Babar Azam has scored a fifty in three of Pakistan’s last four 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup matches – Batter to Score a Fifty in the Match.
- Shoriful Islam has taken 1+ wicket in four of Bangladesh’s six 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup matches played so far – Bowler Milestones.
BETTING ANALYSIS For PAKISTAN
Pakistan’s consecutive victories to open up their group stage campaign seem a long way away now. They have since lost their last four games, most recently ending up on the wrong end of a thriller against South Africa, losing by one wicket. This leaves their hopes of reaching the semi-final reduced to a small glimmer at this stage. Vice-captain Shadab Khan suffered a head injury vs South Africa, forcing Usama Mir to come on as a concussion substitute. Expect Mir to start here in place of Shadab.
As it stands, Mohammad Rizwan has top-scored for Pakistan across the tournament with 333 runs at an average of 66.60. Back the wicket-keeper-batter to score over 29.5 runs here (1.83) for what would be the sixth time in seven group-stage matches. Rizwan boasts a top score of 131 not out against Sri Lanka, and a player of his class could be due another big score after having not passed fifty across his last four innings. Therefore, consider backing Rizwan to finish as Pakistan’s top batter (5.50).
One Pakistan player who has passed the fifty-run-mark with regularity in recent contests is captain Babar Azam. Scores of 50, 74, 18, and 50 represent a solid return, racking up over 3.5 match fours in all bar one of those innings. A sensible move would be backing Babar to record over 3.5 total match fours (1.72) against the Tigers’ bowling attack.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has maintained his excellent wicket-taking record despite his team failing to accrue wins recently. Over the course of Pakistan’s last three games, Shaheen has picked up nine wickets, including figures of 5/54 vs Australia. Against this fragile Bangladesh batting line-up, expect Shaheen to gain another 3+ wickets (3.00) in this encounter.
BETTING ANALYSIS For BANGLADESH
Bangladesh comes into this latest group stage fixture on the back of five consecutive defeats, most recently against associate nation Netherlands, and their knockout hopes are now all but extinguished. Key players who have served them so well in the past are struggling for form, while the fitness of captain Shakib Al Hasan has been an issue across the tournament.
In our last expert analysis involving Bangladesh, we highlighted the lack of runs from top-order batter Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has now gone five consecutive innings without reaching double-figures
following his dismissal for just 9 against the Netherlands. Across Bangladesh’s five most recent fixtures, Shanto has recorded only 24 runs, and when taking into account such form, he warrants backing to score under 21.5 runs (1.83) here.
The opening pair of Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan face a stern examination against a fearsome Pakistan pace bowling attack, and it would be no surprise to see at least one of them perish early in the Tigers’ innings. In Bangladesh’s six group stage matches played so far, they have accumulated an opening partnership of under 30.5 runs five times, and with the likes of Shaheen and Haris Rauf bowling for Pakistan, back that same outcome (1.90) in this clash.
When factoring in the struggles of Bangladesh’s openers to prevent early wickets, not to mention the Tigers’ lack of potency with the ball, another avenue that may prove lucrative for bettors is the ‘Highest Opening Partnership’ market, with Pakistan well worth backing on that front (1.61).
CRICKET 8’S EXPERT PREDICTION
Two sides out of form and low on confidence meet at Eden Gardens, a ground which hosted Bangladesh this past weekend when they were bowled out for just 142, chasing 230 to beat Netherlands. When assessing the two teams on show here, Pakistan’s side looks significantly stronger on paper, with a number of world-class players who should dominate against the Tigers if they play to their potential.
One such player is Pakistan captain and top-order batter Babar Azam, who comes into this encounter having scored 192 runs over the course of his last four World Cup innings. Three of those saw him reach the half-century mark, and when Babar is on form, no bowling attack in the world can stop him from scoring runs. As skipper, he’ll be desperate to lead from the front here with the bat, and against a struggling Bangladesh, Babar looks well-placed to record another score of 50 runs or more.
TIP
BABAR AZAM TO SCORE 50+ RUNS (2.20)
